INTRODUCTION:

Introduction to Plastic Money

Plastic money or polymer money, made out of plastic, is a new and easier way of paying for goods and services.
Plastic money was introduced in the 1950s and is now an essential form of ready money which reduces the risk of
handlings a huge amount of cash. It includes Debit cards, ATMs, smart cards, etc. Credit cards, variants of plastic
money, are used as substitutes for currency.

Meaning
Plastic money refers to credit cards, we use them whenever we want and pay later (with interest, of course). It makes
it too easy for us to buy things we normally could not afford, which makes it easier to get into debt.

Definition
A slang phrase for credit cards, especially when such cards used to make purchases. The “plastic” portion of this
term refers to the plastic construction of credit cards, as opposed to paper and metal currency. The “money” portion
is an erroneous reference to credit cards as a form of money, which they are not. Although credit cards do facilitate
transactions, because they are a liability rather than an asset, they are not money and not part of the economy’s
money supply.

History of Credit Cards and Debit Cards In Plastic Money

Credit cards have evolved into a safe and secure manner to purchase goods and services. The internet has given
credit card users additional purchasing power. Banks have options like cash-back rewards, saving plans and other
incentives to entice people to use their cards. Debit cards allow people the convenience of cards without the worry
of racking up debt. The convenience, security, and rewards offered by credit and debit cards keep shoppers using
their cards as opposed to cheques or cash.

Credit Card Origins

The first credit cards were issued by individual stores and merchants. These cards were issued in limited locations
and only accepted by the business that issued them. While the cards were convenient for the customers, they also
provided customer loyalty and customer service benefit, which was good for both customer and merchant. It was not
until 1950 that the Dinner’s Club card was created by a restaurant patron who forgot his wallet and realized there
needed to be an alternative to cash only. This started the first credit card specifically for widespread use, even
though it was primarily used for entertainment and travel expenses.

Debit Cards Emerge

The Visa association of cards took credit cards to a new level in 1989when they introduced debit cards. These cards
linked consumers to their checking accounts. Money was now drawn from a checking account at the point of sale
with these new cards and replaced check writing. This helped the merchants check that money was available and
made it easier to track the customer if the funds could not be obtained. Consumers liked the convenience of not
having to write checks at the point of sale, which made debit cards a safe alternative to cash and checks.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES :

To study the merits and demerits of plastic money based on experiences of people

Objectives of the project are as follows

 To study the merits of plastic money
 To study the demerits of plastic money
 To study how plastic money is changing today’s world
 To study how scammers take advantage of common peoples
 To study how time-saving plastic money can be
To study how to use plastic money worldwide

METHOD AND METHODOLOGY :

Research Methodology refers to the search of knowledge .one can also define research methodology as a scientific
and systematic search for required information on a specific topic. The word research methodology comes from the
word “advanced learner’s dictionary meaning of research as a careful
investigation or inquiry especially through research for new facts in my branch of knowledge, for example, some
author has to define research methodology as systematized effort to gain new knowledge

Primary data collection:

In dealing with the real-life problem it is often found that data at hand are inadequate, and hence, it becomes
necessary to collect data that is appropriate. There are several ways of collecting the appropriate data which differ
considerably in the context of money costs, time and other resources at the disposal of the researcher

Through personal interviews:-

A rigid procedure was followed and we were seeking answers to many pre-conceived questions through personal
interviews.

Through questionnaire:-
Information to find out the investment potential and goal was found out through questionnaires.

Through Tele-Calling:-
Information was also taken through telephone calls.

Secondary sources of data:

In the secondary sources of data is used. (Internet, magazine, books, journals)

DETAIL REPORT OF PROJECT :

A credit card is a small plastic card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows its holder to buy goods and
services based on the holder’s promise to pay for these goods and services. The issuer of the card grants a line of
credit to the consumer or the user) from which the user can borrow money for payment to a merchant or as a cash
advance to the user. Usage of the term “credit card” to imply a credit card account is a metonym. When a purchase
is made the user would indicate consent to pay by signing a receipt with a record of the card details and indicating
the amount to be paid. The issuer agrees to pay the merchant and the credit card user agrees to pay the card issuer.

Definition:-
The credit card can be defined as “A small plastic card that allows its holder to buy goods and services on credit and
to pay at fixed intervals through the card issuing agency.
 Meaning:-
A credit card is a card or mechanism which enables the cardholder to purchase goods, travels and dine in a hotel
without making immediate payments. The holders can use the cards to get credit from banks up to 45days.
The credit card relieves the consumers from the botheration of carrying cash and ensures safety. It is a convenience
of extended credit without formality. This credit card is a passport to, “safety, convenience, prestige, and credit.

Advantages of Plastic Money

The benefits of a credit card can be grouped as follows:

(A) Benefits to Bank

 A credit card is an integral part of banks major services these days. The credit card provides the following
advantages to the bank. The system provides an opportunity for the bank to attract new potential customers.
 To get new customers the bank has to employee special trained staff. This gives the bank an opportunity to find
the latent talent from among existing staff that would have been otherwise wasted.
 The most important function of a credit card, however, is simply to yield a direct profit for the bank. There is a
scope and a potential for better profitability out of income/ commission earned from the traders turn over.
 This also provides additional customer services to existing clients. It enhances customer satisfaction.
 More use by the cardholder and consequently the growth of banking habits in general.
 The better network of cardholders and increased use of cards means higher popularity and image of the bank
 Savings of expense on cash holdings, i.e. stationery, printing, and
manpower to handle clearing transactions while considerably is reduced.
Also, check out this project on Cashless Economy CBSE Board. It will provide you all the valuable data related to
cashless economies like credit cards, debit cards, bank transfer etc
(B) Benefits to Card Holder

The principal benefits of a cardholder are:

 He can purchase goods and services at a large number of outlets without cash or cheque. The card is useful in an
emergency and can save embarrassment.
 The risk factor for carrying and storing cash is avoided. It is convenient for him to carry a credit card and he has
trouble-free travel and may purchase without carrying cash or cheque.
 Months purchases can be settled with a single remittance, thus, tending to reduce bank and handling charges.
 The cardholder has the period of free credit usually between 30-50 days of purchase.
 Cash can usually be obtained with the card, either on card account or by using it as identification when encasings
a cheque at the bank.
 Availing credit with minimum formality.
 The credit card saves trouble and paperwork to the traveling businessman.
(C) Benefits to the Merchant Establishment

The principal benefits offer a credit card to the retailer is:-

 This will carry prestigious weight to the outlets.

 Increases in a sale because of the increased purchasing power of the cardholder due to unbilled credit available to
the cardholder.
 The retailers gain from impulse buying and trading up to the tendency to buy a bigger or better article.
 Credit card ensures timely and certainly of payments.
 Suppliers/ sellers no longer have to send reminders of outstanding debts.
 Systematic accounting since sales receipts is routed through banking channels.
 Advertising and promotional support on a national scale.
 Development of prestigious clientele base.

Disadvantages of Plastic Money

The following are the common disadvantages of the credit card:

 Some credit card transactions take longer time than cash transactions because of various formalities.
 The customer tends to overspend out of immense happiness.
 Discounts and rebates can rarely be obtained.
 The cardholder is responsible for charges due to loss or theft of the card and the bank may not be a party for loss
due to fraud or collusion of staff, etc
 Customers may be denied a cash discount for payment through the card.
 It might lead to spending habits and cardholders may end up in big debts
 Avoid the entire cost and security problem involved in handling cash.
 Losses to bad debts and reduced additional liquidity is
 It also allows him to delegate spending power to add on members
 A credit card is considered as a status symbol.
Issuer:
The financial institution or other organization that issued the credit card to the cardholder.

The flow of information and money between these parties — always through the card associations — is known as
the interchange, and it consists of a few steps:

1. Authorization:–
The cardholder pays for the purchase and the merchant submits the transaction to the acquirer. The acquirer
verifies with the issuer — almost instantly — that the card number and transaction amount are both valid, and
then processes the transaction for the cardholder.
2. Batching:–After the transaction is authorized it is then stored in a batch, which the merchant sends to the acquirer
later to receive payment (usually at the end of the day).
3. Clearing and settlement:-
The acquirer sends the transactions in the batch through the card association, which debits the issuers for payment
and credits the acquirer. In effect, the issuers pay the acquirer for the transactions.
4. Funding:-
Once the acquirer has been paid, the merchant receives payment. The amount the merchant receives is equal to
the transaction amount minus the discount rate, which is the fee the merchant pays the acquirer for processing the
transaction. The entire process, from authorization to funding, usually takes about 3 days. However, Merchant
Card Processing from some banks and financial institutions can offer next-day deposits to their customers with a
business checking account. In the event of a chargeback (when there’s an error in processing the transaction or
the cardholder disputes the transaction), the issuer returns the transaction to the acquirer for resolution. The
acquirer then forwards the chargeback to the merchant, who must either accept the chargeback or contest it.

CONCLUSION:
In the last two years, spending pattern through plastic money has changed drastically. Travelling, dining, and
jewelry are the top three purchases that Indian makes through credit cards. Two years ago, it was jewelry and
apparel purchases that formed the largest chunk of purchases through plastic money. Fuel accounts for a very small
portion of credit card purchases as these are largely paid through debit cards.
 Consumers were not only more open to the possibility of owning a financial card but were also more than willing to
use their cards to settle dues. The status symbol aspect of owning and using cards too played its part in bringing
about such robust growth over the space of a single year. Debit cards, in particular, proved immensely popular.

According to projections for the 2003-2008 period, the number of financial cards in circulation will register a
compounded annual growth rate of nearly 51 percent sp the satisfaction of consumers has also increased. There are
many ethical issues and challenges for plastic money issuing banks/ companies. Security relating to the card should
be the first priority for each bank/company.

Consumers are preferring these cards mostly for shopping online E-commerce has given a better way to use plastic
money.

At last, it is concluded that plastic money has a very bright future in the coming years because of the increasing
trend of E-commerce.

BIBLIOGRAPHY / REFERENCE :
 Kothari C.R, “Research Methodology: Research and Techniques”; Vishwa Prakashan, New Delhi, 4 thedition.
 E.gordan and Natrajan, Financial Services, Himalaya Publishing House, Mumbai. 5 th edition.
 College Student using the Credit Card
 Smart card based Electronics Commerce characteristics and Roles
 Credit card and Debit cards: What new? Where to?
 Competition and Credit and Debit card Interchange Fees
 Theory of Credit card Networks: A survey of Literature
 An introduction to the economics of payment card networks
 Credit card crisis in South Korea
 Ethical Issues and Challenges
 www.rba.gov.au
 www.federalreserve.gov
 www.direct.gov.uk
 www.paypal.com
 www.google.com
Types of Plastic Cards
There are basically two kinds of Plastic cards which are commonly
used to buy goods and services : Debit Card and Credit Card
Debit Card
Debit card is linked to the account of the cardholder i.e one who owns
the cards. They are usually issued by Banks and financial institutions.
When ones use a debit card the money is immediately deducted
directly from one’s account associated with the card. One can buy
things as long as there is money in account. A debit card is a way to
“pay now” Say you have Rs 10,000 in your account. The amount you
can spend, or withdraw, through your card cannot exceed this limit.

Credit Card
Credit Card is a small plastic card that is issued by financial
institutions such as banks. As the name Credit when one buys using
credit card, one is buying by taking loan. One needs to pay back
later(there are no free lunches in life!). There is a limit to which one
can buy on a credit card. So, even if you have only Rs 10,000 in your
account but your credit limit is Rs 50,000, you are free to spend up to
Rs 50,000. You could also have Rs 1,00,000 in your account, but your
credit limit is only Rs 50,000. You need to repay the amount bought on
credit by a due date.